What are the benefits of mirror therapy?

At the end of treatment, mirror therapy moderately improved movement of the affected upper and lower limb and the ability to carry out daily activities for people within and also beyond six months after the stroke. Mirror therapy reduced pain after stroke, but mainly in people with a complex regional pain syndrome.

Why does mirror box relieve pain?

Mirror therapy works by essentially “tricking the brain” out of pain. Because pain signals are processed in the brain, we can change the brain “input” and get different “output” in terms of pain. When mirror therapy is practiced, the brain receives information that both limbs are intact and functional.

Is looking at yourself in the mirror a symptom of PTSD?

The results of the present study suggest that, in contrast to HCs, patients with PTSD after CSA display significantly stronger negative emotional and cognitive reactions as well as higher dissociative states in response to viewing one’s own body in the mirror.

How do you use the mirror in phantom pain?

A long mirror is placed between the patient’s legs and set to face the intact limb. As the patient moves and watches the intact limb in the mirror’s reflection, the brain is “tricked” into seeing the missing limb. The brain “sees” the phantom limb moving in the mirror and quiets busy activity or bad memories.

How do you use mirror therapy?

Mirror Therapy involves viewing the unaffected limb in a mirror, while keeping the residual limb out of sight. To start, the individual observes the sound limb in the mirror, and then gradually begins to move the hand while continuing to watch in the mirror.

How is mirror therapy implemented?

The patient places his or her hands on the appropriate side of the central mirror, with the affected limb obscured by the mirror box itself. In this way, the reflection of the exposed, unaffected hand and its movements is visually superimposed over the impaired limb.

What is the principle behind the mirror box therapy?

The theory behind mirror therapy is that positive visual feedback will encourage neuroplastic change, leading to a more swift recovery for survivors. A mirror box can be purchased, or made for those with a preference for DIY. Another rehabilitation technique that is based on similar science is visualization.

Do mirrors help with dissociation?

Previous studies found that mirror-gazing at the subject’s reflected own face, under a low illumination level, produces acute dissociation.

What is a box mirror?

a rehabilitation method in which an individual who has lost the use of a limb due to stroke places both affected and unaffected limbs (e.g., left arm and right arm) into slots of a box containing two mirrors in the center that each face outward, reflecting the respective limb.

Who came up with mirror therapy?

V. S. Ramachandran
Mirror therapy/Inventors
Mirror therapy was unveiled by Ramachandran and Rogers-Ramachandran in 1996. Under this therapy, a patient is allowed to feel the imaginary movement of the removed body part behaving as normal body movement through a mirror [7].

How often should you do mirror therapy?

Do Mirror Therapy three to five times per day. Initially, you may only be able to observe the image of the mirrored hand and perhaps make small movements. With time, try to make larger and smoother movements with both arms.